Cooling-fan and controlling means.



P. T. SNYDER.

COOLING FAN AND CONTROLLING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I8 |916.

1,265,271 I Patented May 7, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIQIIIIHI I P. T. SNYUER.

COOLING FAN AND CONTROLL'ING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED API'I I I8. 1916.

Patented May 7,1918.. 2 SHEETS-SIIEET 2 of the cooling radiator.

UNITED sTATEs .PATENT OFFICE.

PABKE T. SNYDEB, OF CHICAGO,

COOLING-FAN AND coN'rnoLLrNG lrmsf To all whom 'it may concernControlling Means, of which the following is a specification.

Myv invention relates to cooling fans and means responsive to variationsin the temperature ofthe air moved thereby, for con# trolling the volumeof air displaced.

It is an undisputed fact that a properlyv lubricated internal combustionengine operates at i-ts highest eiiciency when the cooly nig wateris -inthe neighborhood of 200 F.

Since automobile radiators are necessarily limited as to size it iscustomary to provide a fan'in order to prevent an increase in coolingwater temperature to the boiling point when the engine is working undermaximum load, or at maximumspeed. The

natural result is a material decrease'in eiliciency when opera-ting atlow speeds 'and light'load` du'e to over coolingv of the circulationwater. Furthermore, the constantly operating fan-acts as a positiveeiiciency redncer in cool weather, and for a considerable time afterstarting an' engine which has-been idle long enough to become cool.v

The principal object of my invention vis to maintain the temperature ofthe cooling water of a gas engine at the most desirable pointirrespective of'engine load or speed,

and this I. accomplish by the combination with a cooling fan of a meansresponsive to temperature variation for controlling the volume of airdisplaced-by the fan.

A' further object Aof the invention is to control the volume of airdisplaced by the fan through means responsive to changes in thetempera-ture of the air in the vicinity The invention, thoughparticularly suited for increasing the eliiciency of the cooling systemsof motor cars when working under varying conditions, isv obviouslysusceptible of use in combination with fluid circulating fans or pumpsused for other purposes.

, Other and'further objects of my invention will become readily apparentto persons skilled in .the art, rom a 'consideration of the followingdescription taken in `conjunction with the drawings, whereinz -Figure 1isa side elevation of a frag- Specication of Letters Patent. Apnlloationled April 18, 1916. Serial lo. 91,907.

Patented May 7, 191s.

ment of an internal combustionA engine and radiator showing myautomatically controlled fan in position. 1

Fig. 2 is an .enlarged vertical axial sectional view through the fan andcontrolling means. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line3-3 of Fi 2. l

Fig. ,4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlar ed vertical axial sectional view through t e same,and;

Fig. 7. is a transverse sectional view takenA on' line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

In all the views the same reference characters are employed to indicatesimilar parts.

In general'the structures illustrated comprise a pulley wheel belted orgeared to a rotatin part of an engine, fanblades mounted at t e rear ofthe automobile radiator and arranged for driving connection by thepulley,` and Aa' temperature responsive element arranged to control thecapacity of the fan blades for drawing air through the apertures in theradiator.

The thermostatic control of the fan as to its air impelling capacity,may obviously be accomplished Iby a `number of forms of connections. Forthe purpose of' clear disclosure I have illustrated two embodimentsorfthe invention.

In Figs. 1 to 4 a thermostatically actuated clutch is shown. Above apredetermined temperature the clutch is` closed and the fan rotates atthe same speed as its pulley, whereas a drop in temperature causescontraction of the thermostat diaphragms and a consequent separation ofthe clutch surfaces. Figs. 5 to 7 a structure is illustrated in whichcontraction of the thermostatic element due to drop in temperaturecauses what is termed feathering ofY the blades, the degree of featherfbeing dependent upon' the vtemperature of the 'air contacting with thethermostat. 1 l Referring first to the 'clutch type illustrated in Figs.1- to 4, I have indicated at 10 -an internal combustion engine in frontof which is mounted a water cooling radiwater circulatitig pipes 12 and13. A cooling fan indica 1n general at 14 for draw- ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO BOSS J'. BEATTY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ator 11, suitably connected to the engine by is suitably mounted betweenthe engine and radiator, a belt l14 driven from the engine supplyingpower for its rotation. The temperature responsive device 15isassociated with the fan for controlling its operation.

More specifically, as shownin Fig. 2, 16 is a part of the engine framein which is fixed a bearing stud 17. Rotatablev upon the stud 17 is acollar, hub, or sleeve 18 provided with a belt groove 19 and having anextended internally counter-bored and threaded rend 20, into whichthreaded end is screwed a clutch element or member 21 bearing upon itsface a leather friction disk 22. The stud 17 is provided with a collar23 to preventl axial displacement of the sleeve or hub 18. The clutchmember 21, which rotates with the sleeve 18 has a tubular screw threadedshoulder 24, the hub 20 being counter-bored for the purpose of receivingthis screw threaded shoulder and a space isleft between the end of theshoulder and the inner extremity of the counter bore of the hu'b 20.Rotat'a'ble upon the end portion 17, of the stud 17, -is a sleeve 25,provided with a flange 26 on its rear end for inclusion in the spacebetween the clutch shoulder` 24 and the inner extremity of thecounter-bore of the hub 20. A clutch member 30 is loosely mounted on thesleeve 25 and is positively secured to the fan blades 29-29 as by therivets 31, the fan blades being secured to the arms of the yoke 28, asby screws 32. The fan blades are bent into planes parallel with theaxis, as at 33, and

then radially, so as to bring the blades nearer. to the inner surface ofthe radiator 11. Screwed to the outer threaded terminal of the sleeve25- is a rectangularly shaped housing 35 having forwardly extendingparallel members 36-36 and a transversely extending part 37.

A temperature-responsive, expanding bellows diaphragm 40, containing asuitable expansible fluid and provided with axially positioned,projections 41 and 42 Yis positioned within the housing 35. Theprojection 41 extends through the yoke 28 of the fan, to support thediaphragm in place thereon and the projection 42 extends through thehousing member 37 to axially support the outer end of the diaphragm. Thehub or sleeve 18 is rotatable upon the stud 17, independently of thefan, and the fan controlling thermostatic device.

As shown in Fig. 2, the fan is in driving relation with the rotatableclutch member 21, the clutch member 30 being held firmly in frictionalengaging driving relation therewith by the expanded diaphragm. When thediaphragm is fully expanded, as shown in Fig. 2, its outer end bearsagainst the houslng member 37, which tends to pull the sleeve 25 andclutch member 21, outwardly and press the clutch member 30 rearwardlythereby bringing the clutch member 21 and the leather 22, which may becarried by either member, into tight driving relation with the clutchmember 30. The rear end of the expanding diaphragm pushes against theyoke 28 causing the clutch member 30 to be forcibly pressed rearwardlyinto driving relation with the coperating clutch 'member 21l in a manneryclearly shown by the drawings.

When the air passing through the radiator, and moved by the fan is of atemperature sufficient to expand the temperature responsive medium,within the expanding diaphragm chamber 40, the clutch members arethereby brought into driving relation and the fan is rotated. Therotation ofthe fan causes a strong blast of air to be forcibly drawnthrough the radiator and therefore the temperature of the containedwater is reduced, by the more rapid carrying away of its heat. When thetemperature of the water drops below a predetermined value thetemperature of the air passing through the radiator iscorrespondingly.decreased causing contraction of the diaphragm 40,thereby separating the clutch members 21-and 30, to such extent as tocause more or less slip between said engaging `clutch members, thusreducing the speed of the fan. When contractionof the expanding mediumwithin the 'diaphragms is sutlicient, an entire separation of the clutchmembers is produced, thereby causing the fan to stop, notwithstandingthe continued rotation of the clutch member 21.

By this means the speed of the fan is regulated proportional to thetemperature of the circulating water, or entirely stopped, when thetemperature of the water has been suiliciently reduced.

` The stationary stud 17 is preferably hollow, as at 44, to provide anoil way with.

outlets 45 and 46 and inlet 47. The first mentioned outlets are tosupply oil for the sleeve 18 and the sleeve 25 and the latter to providean inlet for the oil from the cup 48. ,f

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, I have illustrateda device operable by the thermostat, for feathering the blades orchanging their angularity with reference to the plane of rotation,instead of means for varying the speed of the fan to accomplish the sameresult.

In the modification the driving hub or pulley 18 is laterally elongatedat its outer end, as at 50-51, to form a T head. The fan blades 52-52,which are substantial duplicates of each other, are provided vwithtubular stub shafts 53-53 at their inner ends. The end portions 50-51 ofthe head are bored out as at 54 and counter bored at 55 to providebearings for the fan blade shafts 53, suitable lubrication beingprovided by the assages 56, and openings 57 in the stub sha ts. A studwith a large head 59 to prevent axial displacement.

A cap 61 screw threaded into the open end of the tubular drive member 18serves as a fixed abutment for the inner end of the bellows diaphra in62, the outer end of which is connected t rough an adjustable ball andsocket joint 63 with the center of a U-shaped yoke 64. On the front faceof each blade 52,

at one side of the axis of stub shaft 53 is v provided a rod 65, theends of which are down turned and riveted into the blade.4

The ends of the U-shaped yoke 64 are perforated to make slidingengagement with the rods 65 and it will be obvious that axial movementof yoke 64 causes rotation of the'.

blades .about their stub shafts 53. The range of movement is but slight,varying from the position indicated in. dotted lines in Fig. 6 at whichpoint they lie inthe plane of fan rotation, to a maximum inclinationindicated n solid lines when a maximum volume of air. is displaced. Pins66 project from the fan blades into arcuate slots 67 in the head toprovide stops limiting the extent of oscillation of the blades upontheir pivots.

When the heat responsive device, or expanding diaphragm 62 is collapsed,by the contraction of the expansible vfluid contained therein, the endsof the yoke 64 are drawn inwardly, whereupon the rods 65 are acted uponby the respective limbs to rotate the fan blades 52 into a plane at aright an le to the axis of rotation, at which time t e fan blades, ofcourse, will be inactive and will not draw any air through the radiator.An increase of air temperature will expand the heat responsive mediumwithin the diaphragm 62, moving the yoke piece 64 o'utwardly drawing theedges of the blades forwardly and bringing the fan blades into planes,.oblique to the inactive plane `in which they were positioned.

When the expansible diaphra 62 is contracted, to some extent, it ws theblades into a position intermediate the two extremes consequentlyreducing the capacity of the fan'as an air pro eller;

It is evident that ot er temperature responsive devices than that shownmay'be employed for controlling the fan operatlon for either embodimentshown and described.

While I have herein shown two embodiments of my invention, it will bemanifest to persons skilled in the art, that there are many other formsand deviations which my invention may take without departing from thescope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim isz- 1. The combination witha fan, of means for varying the air moving capacity thereof,

58 is screw threaded into. the end of each stub shaft and is provided.

and a temperature'responsive device i by the fan and connected with saidmeans. 2. The 'combination with an automobile radiator and cooling fan,of means for. varya temperature responsive device connected with saidmeans and carried by thefanbetween the radiator and fan.

3. The combination with a rotatable fan, of means carried by saidrotatable fan for var ing the air moving capacity thereof, an atemperature responsive device carried by said rotatable fan andconnected with the aforesaid means for operation thereof.`

4. The combination witha rotatable fan comprising a hub and fan bladescarried thereby, of means carried by said fan for ing the air movingcapacity of the fan, andrature responsive device i a temperature nsivemeans carried by of the the front end fan in close proximity to theradiator, and vconnected with the aforesaid means for operation thereof.

6. The combination with a rotatable fan comprising a hub and fan bladescarriedthereby, of means for varyingtheair mo'v ing capacity of saidfan, and a thermostatic bellows diaphragm coaxially mounted on the frontof said hub, Aand connected with the aforesaid means for operationthereof.

ioo

7. The combination with an automobile' radiatory cooling fan, of` meansPfor varying the air moving ca acity thereof, a bel ows diaphragm carriby the fan means for preventing movement of one en of the diaphragm withrespect to the fan and a connection between the other end of thediaphragm' and the means for varying the air moving capacityof the fan.

8. The combination of an automobile radiator cooling fan comprising ahub and fan blades-pivotally mounted at their bases in the hub to permitmovement of the blades from their normal air displacing positions intothe plane of fan rotation, atemperature -responsive means carried by thefan, land connections between said temperature responsive means and eachfan blade. i 9. The combination of an automobile radiator cooling fancomprising a hub and fan blades pivotally mounted at their bases inthehub to permit movement of the blades from their normal air displacingpositions into the plane of fan rotation, a tem erature responsive meanscarried by the an, and connections between said temperature reonsivemeans and each vfan blade at one side of the axis upon which the bladeis movable with respect to the hub.

10. The combination of an automobile radiator cooling fan Comprising ahub and fan blades pivotally mounted at their bases in the hub to permitmovement of the blades from .their normal air displacing positions intothe plane of fan rotation, a temperature responsive means carried by thefan at the axis thereof and having a part axially movable in response totemperature changes, and a connection between the movable part Y of saidtemperature responsive means and each fan blade whereby movement of theformer causes movement of the fan blades about their pivotal connectionswith the hub.

11.- A rotary flow inducing device and a thermostat which rotates withand is carried by said device for automatically varying the flowinducing capacity of the device as the temperature of the medium onwhich the device works varies.

12. A flow inducing fan having adjustable fan blades and a thermostatcarried by the fan and rotatable therewith and operatively connected tothe blades so as to Vary the angularity of the blades in accordance withchanges of temperature of the medium on which the blades work.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PARKE T. SNYDER. In the presence of STANLEY W. COOK, MARY F. ALLEN.

